Bandits have struck again in Northwest Nigeria, killing five people and abducting 100 in Zamfara and Katsina States.
In Zamfara State, the bandits killed five people and abducted more than 50 persons in series of attacks across the State.
In fact, since the visit of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede last week, no fewer than ten Communities were attacked from six Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Zamfara State, leaving five people killed and more than fifty people, all women and little children.
The affected LGAs recently attacked by the bandits include Gusau, Bukkuyum, Zurmi, Kaura-Namoda, Maru, and Anka.
Sources said that four people were killed in Gusau and Gummi’s LGAs, two in each of the Council areas in addition to the abduction of several people.
It was also gathered that among the abducted victims is the Vice Chairman of Bukkuyum LGAs, Honourable Bala Muhammad Majidadi.
Sources from Zurmi LGA told our Correspondent that the bandits had recently stopped attacking communities, and they started feeling relief. However, suddenly, the bandits resumed their ugly activities, and several communities were attacked.
He said despite military surveillance and killing many of them, they still resisted and attacked communities to kidnap people for ransom.
When contacted, the Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre, Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, said troops are yielding positive results as many of the kingpin leaders were killed in the recent operation by the military.
He said about seven bandit leaders, including Kachalla Na Faransa, Kachall Bokolo, Kachalla Sani Bannuwa, and Sani Black, were eliminated during the operation. Each of the seven kingpins had more than 50 followers who were either killed or seriously injured on the battlefield.
He further explained that the military destroyed more than 40 camps in the recent operation. stressing that “the battle with the Bandits will continue until the military of Operation Fansan Yamma eliminates them.”
Meanwhile, fear and uncertainty gripped the residents of Ungwar Lamido in the Bakori LGA of Katsina State when bandits kidnapped about 50 people in a daylight operation.
A credible source disclosed that the bandits now operate freely, striking at any time of the day.
In the latest attack, the criminals nearly emptied the entire village, forcing many residents to flee the community to Bakori town for safety.
Recall that the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Maharazu Tsiga, was abducted over three weeks ago.
His exact location remains unknown; sources speculated that he may have been taken to a forest in Kuka, Kakumi, Kankara, Batsari, or Safana, which have been notorious for bandit hideouts.
Security personnel remain scarce in the area, and locals fear that even the few stationed nearby are hesitant to confront the well-armed bandits due to their large numbers.
The affected community is calling on the government to intervene by providing relief materials for displaced persons and taking decisive action to curb the escalating attacks.
Residents lament that Ungwar Lamido may soon become utterly deserted without urgent intervention.
As of the time this report was filed, the authorities concerned about the latest attacks in the community had not issued an official statement.
Originally published in Leadership
